City trips are a driver for global travel, and it’s expected that nearly 800 million people will visit urban destinations annually by 2025. Travel search engine KAYAK has recently launched a City Index for Mindful Travellers, an interactive guide to help travellers consider sustainability-related aspects, where Rotterdam took the top spot as the most attractive city destination for mindful travellers. Cape Town grabbed fifth spot in the Middle East and Africa ranking.
The guide analysed 167 cities in 63 countries across 28 factors to help conscious travellers make more informed travel decisions. It also features the option to personalise results and filter by factors most important to the traveller.
Panorama shot of Cape Town city overlooking the canal and clouds covering table mountain
Top 10 highest-ranked cities:
- Rotterdam, Netherlands
- Amsterdam, Netherlands
- Graz, Austria
- Trondheim, Norway
- Munich, Germany
- Helsinki, Finland
- Stockholm, Sweden
- Zurich, Switzerland
- Gothenburg, Sweden
- Vienna, Austria
Cape Town stands out in the Middle East & Africa
Tunis, Tunisia, leads the ranking in the Middle East and Africa thanks to the density of markets and the opportunity to buy second-hand, making it easier to delve into the local culture. Tel Aviv, Israel, comes in second place and excels in the number of walking tours, some of which are free of charge. And while strolling from one cultural point to another, travellers can find recycling points. The UAE’s Dubai is in 3rd place due to its eco-friendly car hire options for costs lower than for conventional cars.
Cape Town, which rounds up the top five in the ranking of the Middle East and Africa region, seems to be not over-touristed compared to many other popular destinations. The city has a good share of properties that could be interesting for mindful travellers because they use practices such as eliminating single-use plastic or running on renewable energy sources. Additionally, free walking tours are available in Cape Town, which enables travellers to explore the city’s sights with fewer carbon emissions easier.
Travel the world more responsibly
Vancouver in Canada storms onto the podium in North America, being particularly noted for its air quality. Tokyo in Japan reached the highest rank in the Asia-Pacific region. The Japanese capital’s local markets, theaters, and art galleries are extremely accessible thanks to “pedestrian-only streets” and designated bike roads. Santiago in Chile took the grand prize in the Latin American ranking. Santiago offers the biggest reduction in average flight prices during the low season, with its airport being recognised for great carbon management according to Airport Carbon Accreditation.
Pictures: GettyImages
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